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P. M. Bakashi, Comparative Law: Separation of Powers in
India, 42 A.B.A. J. 553 (1956).

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Comparative Law:

Separation of Powers in India


by P. M. Bakshi • of the Rajasthan Judicial Service (India)

* The first half of the twentieth century has seen the creation of literally dozens the legislative power shall be vested
of new constitutional governments. Americans should be flattered that our own in or shall exclusively reside in the
Constitution, the oldest national charter of government in the world, has influenced Parliament (see Articles 79 and
so many of the world's statesmen who are leading their own nations into prideful 245). Article 246 (1) does of course
self-government. Mr. Bakshi's article is an interesting comparison of some of the say that "Parliament has exclusive
common features of our Constitution and the new Constitution of India. power to make laws with respect to
any of the matters enumerated in
a The doctrine of separation of trol of the executive would, accord-, List I". But the words "exclusive
powers, as understood in the United ing to this doctrine, be completely power" in this clause are meant to
States of America, means that there beyond the sphere of the legislature. exclude the state legislatures and are
are three branches of the machinery Determination of disputes and adju- not intended to close the doors
of the state, each of which has its dication of questions of fact or law against the executive. Similarly, the
own functions, namely legislative, would also be beyond the sphere of articles relating to the judicial pow-,
executive and judicial; and that the legislature. er do not say that the judicial power
each branch must be strictly limited It may be noted here that even in of the Union shall be exclusively
to its own sphere and should not be the United States of America, where vested in the Supreme Court (see
allowed to trespass upon the sphere the doctrine of separation of powers Article 131 and the succeeding arti-
allotted to any other branch. A neat has been most vigorously canvassed, cles) . In Article 131, the words "to
statement of the doctrine is found it has not found favor in an abso- the exclusion of any other court"
in the Massachusetts Declaration of lute undiluted form. Intermingling are intended to exclude other courts;
Rights, 1780, as follows: of functions is, to a certain extent, they do not embody any mandate
inevitable, and has been accepted of the Constitution-makers that no
In the Government of this Com-
monwealth the legislative depart- even in the United States of Ameri- judicial function shall be conferred
ment shall never exercise the exec- ca. Now let us see how far the doc- upon the legislature or the execu-
utive and judicial powers, or either trine holds good under the Indian tive. Coming to the article relating
of them. The executive shall never Constitution. to the executive power (Article 53),
exercise the legislative and judicial
powers, or either of them. The judicial The first thing that strikes any per- one does meet the words "the exec-
shall never exercise the legislative and son who begins a study of the Indian •utive power of the Union shall be
executive powers, or either of them. Constitution from this point of view vested in the President and shall be
To the end it may be a Govern- is that there is no express declara- exercised by him either directly or
ment of laws and not of man. tion of the doctrine of separation of through officers subordinate to him
It follows that if the doctrine powers in the Indian Constitution. in accordance with this Constitu-
strictly applies, the legislature should No words have been used solemnly tion". But even here, one does not
never be allowed to assume judicial affirming or formulating the doc- find words like "exclusively". It
or executive functions. Powers of ap- trine in any particular article. The appears, therefore, that the constitu-
pointment and dismissal, supervision articles that relate to the legislative tion-makers did not consciously ap-
of the administrative set up and con- power, for example, do not say that prove of the philosophy of separa-

June, 1956 " VoL 42 553


Separation of Powers in India

tion of powers. 111); cases (Article 72);


Secondly, an examination of the (4) The President's power to is- (2) The President's power to de-
detailed provisions of the Constitu- sue a proclamation of emergency cide questions as to whether a mem-
tion also supports the view that it which has the effect of increasing the ber of either House of Parliament
was not the intention to lay down field of legislative powers of Parlia- has become subject to any disquali-
anything like "prohibited areas" for ment (Article 352) ; fication for membership (Article
the three branches of the Govern- (5) The President's power to sus- 103).
ment. There is a liberal mixture of pend remedies for the enforcement III. The Judiciary. (A) Legisla-
functions of the one type with func- of fundamental rights (Article 359) ; tive powers of the Judiciary. At least
tions of another type, as the follow- (6) The President's power to is- one of the functions of the judiciary
ing analysis indicates: sue a proclamation of failure of con- is legislative, namely, niaking rules
I. The Legislature. (A) Executive stitutional machinery in the states, for regulating its practice and pro-
functions of the legislature. The leg- which authorizes the Parliament to cedure (Article 145) ;
islature exercises the following func- assume the legislative powers for (B) Executive powers of the ju-
tions which are essentially of an that state-powers that can be dele- diciary. An example of this is the
executive nature: gated to the President (Article 356) ; power to appoint officers and serv-
(1) Voting in the election of the (7) The President's power to rec- ants of the High Court (Article 46).
President (Article 55) ; ommend money bills, and to give The survey made above will show
(2) Voting in the election of the previous sanction to the bills to be that the Constitution does not pay
Vice President, and his removal (Ar- introduced in state legislatures that homage to the doctrine, either by
ticles 66 and 67); might impose restrictions on the precept or by example.
(3) Control of the Council of freedom of trade and commerce or It now remains to be seen whether
Ministers (Article 75, which says intercourse with or within that state the doctrine would have any utility
that the Council shall be collectively (Articles 117 and 304) ; in India. It is submitted that an ac-
responsible to the House of the Peo- (8) The President's power to cer- tion of any branch of the state in
ple) tify state laws relating to eminent India cannot be declared invalid
(4) Removal of Judges of the Su- domain (Article 31) ; merely because the quality of the
preme Court and of the High Courts (9) The President's power to vali- action is such that it belongs to an-
(Articles 124 and 217); date the existing state laws relating other branch. In other words, an act
(B) Judicialfunctions of the Leg- to taxes in respect of water or elec- of Parliament cannot be declared to
islature. The legislature exercises tricity stored or generated by inter- be void merely because it amounts
the following functions which are state river development authorities to adjudication provided it is other-
essentially of a judicial nature: (Article 288) ; wise valid, and the same rule would
(1) Impeachment of the Presi- (10) The President's power to de- certainly apply to the judiciary. Con-
dent (Article 61) ; clare how far existing laws interfer- formity with the provisions of the
(2) Certification of money bills ing with the freedom of trade, com- Constitution is of course necessary,
through the Speaker (Article 110); merce and intercourse shall continue but conformity to the doctrine as
(3) Judicial functions in connec- (Article 305) such is not necessary for the validity
tion with parliamentary privilege, (11) The President's power to of any measure.
including committal for contempt make temporary provisions with re- The current of judicial authority
(Article 105). spect to Jammu and Kashmir and to supports this view. Certain observa-
II. The Executive. (A) Legisla- adapt existing laws in order to bring tions of Sir Patric Spens, C. J.,
tive functions of the Executive. The them into accord with the Constitu- in Piare Dusadh v. The Emperor
Executive under the Indian Consti- tion (Articles 370 and 372); A.I.R. [1944] F. C. 1, 8, are some-
tution exercises the following func- (12) The President's power to pro- times cited in support of the view
tions which are essentially of a legis- rogue and dissolve the House of the that the doctrine is to be followed
lative nature: People and to summon both Houses in India. The observations are:
(1) Power of the President to pro- (Article 18) ; As a general proposition, it may
mulgate ordinances (Article 123); (13) The President's power to as- be true enough to say that the leg-
(2) Power of the President to sent to the amendment of the Con- islative function belongs to the Leg-
make regulations for the peace and islature and the judicial function to
stitution (Article 368).
the judiciary. Such differentiation
good government of all territories (B) Judicial functions of the Ex-- of functions and distribution of
specified in Part D of the First Sched- ecutive. The Executive under the powers are in a sense part of the
ule and any other territory com- Indian Constitution exercises the fol- Indian law as of the American law.
prised within the territory of India lowing judicial functions: But these observations should be
but not specified in that Schedule (1) Power of the President to read along with the context. On the
(Article 243) ; grant pardons and to suspend, remit same page of the report His Lord-
(3) The President's veto (Article or commute sentences in certain ship observes that "in India the Leg-

554 American Bar Association journal


Separation of Powers in India

islature has more than once enacted because the power to nullify the de-
laws providing that suits which have crees and orders of the court is pure-
been dismissed on a particular view ly a judicial power and the Constitu-
of the law must be restored and re- tion does not appear to have given
tried". And further: "In view of the jurisdiction to the legislature either
history of the rule in America, it is expressly or by necessary intendment
questionable whether it would be to arrogate to itself the power to ad-
right to apply the same rule in this judicate-a power which is exclusive-
country". The facts in this case be- ly within the jurisdiction of the
fore the Federal Court were that the court". Laxmi Kant Jha, C.J., relied
Special Criminal Courts Ordinance upon the observations of Spens, C.J.,
(Ordinance 2 of 1942) having been already quoted, and observed that
declared void in an earlier case by the power to reverse the decisions
the Federal Court, the Governor- of the courts is essentially judicial
General had promulgated a new Or- and has not been conferred upon
dinance (Ordinance 19 of 1943), by the legislature by the Constitution.
Section 3 of which it was provided His Lordship observed that though
that any sentence passed by the there is no express definition of the P. M. Bakshi is Draftsman in the Law
courts acting under the old Ordi- powers of the judiciary in the Con- Department of the Government of Ra-
nance should have effect and should stitution, still "it is well settled that jasthan. He was graduated from the
continue to have effect as if the trial when a department is created by the Government College of Law at Bombay
had been held in accordance with Constitution for the exercise of judi- (affiliated with Bombay University) at
the Code of Criminal Procedure by cial authority, the Constitution con- the top of the list of successful exam-
a court exercising competent juris- templates the whole judicial power inees and has practiced law in the Bom-
diction under that Code. The valid- to be exercised by the Judicial bay High Court. He was appointed
ity of this section was challenged Department alone", A.I.R. [1952] legal adviser to the Government of
before the Federal Court, on the Patna 166, 173. It is respectfully sub- Mewar and then to the Government of
ground that it amounted to an exer- mitted that this goes against the es- Rajasthan.
cise of the judicial power. The main tablished practice of the Indian
argument on this point was that ac- legislature, and there is no provision
cording to the American authority, in the Constitution which indicates venting the legislature from exercis-
legislative action cannot be, made to any intention to incorporate the doc- ing judicial power, the Act cannot
retroact upon past controversy and trine of separation of powers. This be declared invalid, simply because
to reverse decisions. The Federal case has been expressly dissented it is in effect adjudicating with re-
Court expressly rejected this view from in A.I.R. [1955] Patna 1, gard to the rights of the parties".
and held that it cannot be applied where the court expressly rejected (The Act was, of course, held in-
in India. There are, of course, ob- the argument that the legislature valid in this case, not on the ground
servations to the effect that the sec- under our Constitution cannot over- of the doctrine of the separation of
tion in question did not amount to ride the effect of a judicial decision powers, but on the ground that it
exercise of the judicial power, but it (see page 31 of the Report). The violated the fundamental right re-
is doubtful if the court would have question involved there was of the lating to property).
arrived at a different result even if validity of the Bihar Land En- There is one more case of the
the sections had been found to be croachment Act 1950 (Bihar Act 31 Patna High Court, where Rama-
an example of an exercise of the of 1950), which directed the Collec- swami, J., expressed the opinion,
judicial power. tor to evict any person unauthorized- that "in India there is no doctrine
In a Patna case, Bankey Singh v. ly occupying any land which is a or dogma of separation of the vari-
Jhingan Singh, A.I.R. [1952] Patna public property. The argument of ous powers. It is important to note
166, a provision of a Bihar Act, de- the appellant was, that "the Act ad- that our Constitution has not vested
claring certain persons to have been judicates and does not legislate". the judicial power or the legislative
in possession as "Raiyats" of certain Narain, J., while agreeing that there power in separate departments of
lands on a particular date and pro- was no scope left in the Act for judi- the State. The articles of our Consti-
hibiting suits to question such pos- cial determination by the Collector, tution do not divide and establish
session and declaring decrees incon- held that "if the Act is constitution- areas of black and white", Ram
sistent with such possession to be ally valid and within the legislative Prasadv. The State of Bihar, A.I.R.
void, was held to be ineffective, on competence of the legislature and [1952] Patna 195, 197. Sarju Prasad,
not void on the ground of repug- J., expressed no final opinion on this
the ground that "The State Legisla-
ture is not competent to reverse the nancy, then, there being no positive point. This decision was reversed on
decisions and orders of the court... inhibition in our Constitution pre- (Continued on page 594)

June, 1956 • Vol. 42 555


The Fifth Amendment

minority building on the historically incor- the privilege to "any criminal case"! Now, the clear and simple language of the Founding
rect views of the minority in Brown v. Walk- notwithstanding Mr. Justice Holmes' famous Fathers. Still it must be conceded that fre-
er. Of course, there can be no question of the epigram, when still a Massachusetts judge, In quent affirmance of a constitutional construc-
correctness of the majority decision, even McAuliffe v. New Bedford, 155 Mass, 216, 220, tion has not deterred the Court when, without
though predicated on the erroneous historical 29 N. E. 517, that petitioner "has no consti- even lip-service to stare decisis, it wills other-
background of Counselman v. Hitchcock. Un- tutional right to be a policeman" (cited as wise. One notes a most recent instance in the
der the correct historical view, the Fifth late as 1946 in United Public Workers v. School Segregation Cases (discussed in April,
Amendment never did apply to congressional Mitchell, 330 U.S. 75, 99), a person now appears 1956, issue of the JOURNAL) in which the Court
hearings; and so there could be no serious to have a constitutional right to be a teacher blandly brushed aside the unanimous decision
constitutional question concerning the power although he violates a specific public regula- made in 1927, when, affirming the Supreme
of Congress under the "necessary and proper" tion conditioning his employment on not in- Court of Mississippi in Gong Lure v. Rice, 275
clause, as a matter of grace, to adopt the Eng- voking the Fifth Amendment. See also the U.S. 78, it ruled that the school segregation
lish practice of granting immunity whenever excellent statement of Lassing J., in Scholl v. involved was "the same question which has
Congress is pursuing an appropriate consti- Bell, 125 Ky. 750, 102 S. W. 248 (1907), quoted been many times decided to be within the
tutional purpose. approvingly by Wigmore, supra, §2251. There constitutional power of the state legislature
It may be confidently predicted that law- was a time when the Court held that the ac- to settle without the intervention of the feder-
yers, both North and South, will lift their tion of a state in prescribing the conditions al courts under the Federal Constitution"--the
eyebrows over the statement in the majority on which public work should be done suggest unanimous Court being composed of Chief
decision in the Ullman case: "Nothing new only considerations of policy with which the Justice Taft and Justices Holmes, Brandeis,
can be put into the Constitution except courts have no concern. Heim v. McCall, 239 Stone, Van DeVanter, McReynolds, Suther-
through the amendatory process. Nothing old U.S. 175 (1915); Stephenson v. Binford, 287 land, Butler, and Sanford. Speaking parenthet-
can be taken out without the same process." U.S. 251, 276. ically, shall we now expect further amend-
Close to the acme of judicial amendment What has happened to the Fifth Amendment ment by the Court by the upsetting as "out-
of the Constitution is the decision in Slochow- is the building of bad judicial precedent on moded" of the many century-old state laws
er v. Board of Education, decided by the bad judicial precedent far away from the against mixed marriages, the prevention or
United States Supreme Court on April 9, 1956, words and the intent of the Founders. The diminution of which is only one of numerous
in which, reversing the New York courts, it writer suggests the pertinence of the classic completely rational bases for segregated
was held that it was a violation of the due statement that "a frequent recurrence to fun- schools?
process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment damental principles is essential to the per- It can hardly be gainsaid that rewriting and
for a New York City public institution of petuity of free government". amending the Constitution in one's own im-
higher learning to discharge a professor pur- However, the present Supreme Court, in the age, rather than seeking the intent of the
suant to an express provision of the New light of its general orientation, may perhaps framers of its provisions, and requiring lawful
York City Charter for having invoked the be expected to hold that the Court has so resort to the established amendment proce-
Fifth Amendment before a congressional com- often amended the Fifth Amendment and so dure, seems to be the order of the day.
mittee. Indeed, how outmoded was the think- often decided against its true intent that it Certainly the Fifth Amendment has not es-
ing of the Founding Fathers when they limited cannot now return to first principles and to caped.

Separation of Powers in India bad accepted the petition and on preme Court held the act to be void
(Continued from page 555) appeal the Supreme Court agreed on the ground that the legislature
another ground by the Supreme with the view of the Hyderabad had singled out two individuals and
Court in Ram Prasad v. The State High Court that the Act was void denied them the right that every
of Bihar, A.I.R. [1953] Supreme on the ground of violation of the Indian citizen possesses to have his
Court 215. equality clause. It is strange that no rights adjudicated upon by judicial
Legislation amounting to adjudi- attack was made on the validity of tribunals in accordance with law
cation of a particular dispute may, the Act on the ground of the doc- which applied to his case. The court,
however, violate the guarantee of trine of separation of powers, and it however, thought it unnecessary to
equal protection of the laws and seems that the counsel for the peti- embark upon a discussion as to how
equality before the law under Arti- tioners did not think it worthwhile far the doctrine of separation of
cles 14 and 15 of the Constitution, to advance any argument in that di- powers applied in India and whether
and may be void on that account. rection. the legislature can arrogate to itself
This is what happened in Ameerun- In, Ram Prasad v. The State of the powers of the judiciary and pro-
nissa v. Mahboob Begum, A.I.R. Bihar, A.I.R.,[1953] Supreme Court ceed to decide disputes between pri-
[1953] Supreme Court 91. The facts 215, the Bihar Sathi Lands (Restora- vate parties by making a declaration
of that case are interesting. On the tion) Act 1950 (Bihar Act 34 of of the rights of one against the other
death of Nawab Waliuddowla, a 1950), was held to be void on the (see A.I.R. [19531 Supreme Court
nobleman of the Hyderabad State, ground of violation of the equality 215, 219).
disputes arose regarding succession clause. The Act in question was The conclusion that emerges from
to his property, and, to put an end passed with the object of declar- this discussion is this:
to those disputes, an act known as ing the settlement of certain lands I. The Indian Constitution does
the Waliuddowla Succession Act of known as Sathi lands in the Cham- not contain any formal declaration
1950 was passed by the Hyderabad paran district to be void and restor- of the doctrine of separation of pow-
State, whereby the claims of succes- ing the lands in question to the ers.
sion put forward by Mahboob Be- Bettiah Wards estate. The petition- 2. The Indian Constitution, in its
gum and Kadiran Begum, two of the ers who had obtained possession actual provisions, does not exhibit,
alleged widows of the late Nawab, under the settlement challenged the any scrupulous regard for the doc-
and their children, were dismissed. validity of the Act on the ground trine of separation of powers.
These two ladies as well as their that in passing the impugned legis- 3. Legislation in India cannot be
children filed a petition before the lation the Bihar legislature actually declared to be void merely on the
Hyderabad High Court under Arti- usurped the power of the judiciary ground that it amounts to adjudica-
cle 226 of the Constitution on the and the enactment was not a law at tion. The authority on this point is--
ground that the Act was void under all, and further, that the Act was not very strong, but in principle this
Articles 14, 19 and 31 of the Consti- void as it conflicted with Articles 14 appears to be the position.
tution. The High Court of Hydera- and 19 of the Constitution. The Su- 4. Legislation amounting to adju-

594 American Bar Association journal


Separation of Powers in India

dication may, however, be held to be has not been decided by the Su- doctrine of separation of powers,
void if it discriminates against any preme Court, but is a fairly plausible though it is difficult to conceive of
person or group without justifica- ground of attack. many cases where the executive can
tion. This has been established con- 6. An act of the legislature which exercise the judicial function with-
clusively by two decisions of the purports to confer on the executive out express legislation authorizing it
Supreme Court. In practice it will a wide legislative power may be held to do so. Such legislation would pre-
be difficult for the legislature to es- to be void on the ground of an un- sumably be valid if it is otherwise in
cape successfully an attack on this due delegation of powers. This is
accordance with the Constitution.
ground. sometimes regarded as a branch of
8. If the judiciary assumes legisla-
5. Legislation amounting to adju- the doctrine of separation of powers,
but it has to be kept separate. tive or executive functions, such an
dication may further be held to be
void on the ground that it takes 7. If the executive assumes judi- assumption would be void, not on
away property without compensa- cial functions or is vested with judi- any theoretical basis, but on the gen-
tion or unreasonably restrains the cial function by any act, such an eral principle that a court cannot
enjoyment of property; see Articles assumption or vesting cannot be exercise powers not conferred upon
19 and 31 of the Constitution. This void merely on the ground of the it by law.

The Federal Courts mittee, a proposed resolution which Committee on the Administration of
in 1955 the Conference adopted, to author- the Criminal Law-Chief Judge
(Continued from page 552) ize the Chief Justice to appoint a John J. Parker, Chairman.
Committee on Judicial Statistics-
es notwithstanding the provision for panel of district judges, consisting Chief Judge Charles E. Clark,
discretionary jury trial made by of one or more from each circuit, to Chairman.
Rule 71A (h) of the Federal Rules study the special problems of pre- Committee on the Operation of *the
of Civil Procedure. trial in long complicated cases and jury System-Chief Judge Harry E.
to meet in conference for that pur- Watkins, Chairman.
The committee reported to the Committee on Bankruptcy Adminis-
Conference that a revised edition pose. The resolution contemplates
tration-Chief Judge Orie L. Phil-
of the handbook for petit jurors, that hereafter, in antitrust and sim- lips, Chairman.
which had previously been ap- ilar protracted litigation, one of the Committee on Pre-Trial Procedure-
proved by the Conference had been judges of this panel be made avail- Circuit Judge Alfred P. Murrah,
distributed throughout the judiciary able to the judge who will try the Chairman.
case, on his request, for consulta- Committee on Court Administration
for use in all the district courts. It Jr.,
tion and to sit jointly with him at -Chief Judge John Biggs,
also received a report on the cost of Chairman.
the operation of the jury system. pre-trial conferences.
The report of Chief Judge Reconstitution of Conference According to the report, the Con-
Charles E. Clark, of the Second Cir- Committees ference took a recess, subject to the
cuit, as Chairman of the Conference call of the Chief Justice, on Sep-
Finally, the Conference undertook tember 20, 1955.
Committee on Judicial Statistics,
a major reorganization of its com-
stated that during the spring of The Director's Report
mittee system, whereby all existing
1955, twenty-eight district court
committees were discharged and the The annual report of Henry P.
judges had co-operated with the
Chief Justice was authorized, with Chandler, the Director of the Ad-
Committee by keeping diaries for a
assistance from certain members of ministrative Office of the United
three-month period, of the amount
the Conference, to appoint, reap- States Courts, for the year ending
of time they spent in court and point, or reconstitute, such commit-
chambers on individual cases and tees as might seem appropriate. The June 30, 1955, dated September,
that this project had substantiated 1955, which had been presented to
report of the Chief Justice states the Judicial Conference at the open-
information obtained from previous
that under this authorization the ing of its September Session, in-
studies as to the relatively large
revised committee structure of the cludes a detailed report by the Di-
amount of judicial time required for Conference is as follows:
the disposition of private litigation vision of Procedural Studies and
Advisory Committee-Mr. Chief Jus- Statistics on the movement of cases
as opposed to cases in which the
tice Earl Warren, Chairman. and the nature of the judicial busi-
United States is a party. Committee on Supporting Personnel
-Chief Judge John Biggs, Jr., ness throughout the Federal Dis-
Pre-Trial Procedure Chairman. trict Courts, the Courts of Appeals
Circuit Judge Alfred P. Murrah, of Committee on Revision of the Laws and the Special Courts. This is sum-
of -Circuit Judge Albert B. Mars, marized in the report of the Chief
the Tenth Circuit, the Chairman Chairman.
the Conference Committee on Pre- Justice, supra. In addition, the Di-
Committee on Air Conditioning of
Trial Procedure, reported to the rector discusses a number of other
Court Quarters-Chief Judge John
Conference on behalf of his Corn- J. Parker, Chairman. aspects of the judicial business.

June, 1956 • Vol. 42 595

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